Khloy

Khmer female musician playing khloy taken by Emile Gsell, mid 1800s. Cambodia

The khloy (Khmer: ខ្លុយ, Burmese: ပုလွေ, Khmer pronunciation: [kʰloj]) is a traditional bamboo vertical duct flute from Cambodia and more specifically the Khmer people. The khloy and other similar bamboo flutes can be found throughout Asia, due to bamboo’s abundance in the region. The khloy is a duct flute and has two sizes: smaller, higher-pitched (khloy ek) and larger, lower-pitched (khloy thomm). It has six finger holes and a thumb hole, or seven finger holes and no thumb hole. A hole above the highest finger hole may be covered with a membrane made of rice paper or bamboo inner skin, similar to di mo.[1]

The Cambodian khloy is often mistaken for its close relative of Thailand, the klui flute, however Khmer khloy is aged older.[2] Unlike the klui flute, the khloy is generally played solo in an informal setting. The khloy is mostly played using the pentatonic scale.

  1. ^ Sam-Ang, Sam (2008). "The Khmer People of Cambodia". In Miller, Terry E.; Williams, Sean (eds.). The Garland Handbook of Southeast Asian Music. New York, US: Taylor & Francis. p. 97. ISBN 978-1-135-90154-7.
  2. ^ "Flute". Site de soundsofangkor ! (in French). Retrieved 2020-03-14.